1 Topic by Simon94 (edited by Simon94 2008-04-18 15:14:36)

  • From: Sweden
  • Registered: 2008-03-10
  • Posts: 165

Topic: Stratocaster question.

Hello everybody!

Im hunting for a new guitar and I'm not earning that much money (hey, Im only 14!) and Im looking for stratocasters.

Ive found some guitars I find intresting, but I dont know what to choose. What would you pick?

a Fender Stratocaster Made in Japan 62- ressiue

A Fender Stratocaster classic player 60's

or a Fender Stratocaster Classic 60's.

Thats what Ive been intresting in but yeah... hard choice.
What would you pick? Or is there a strat in that price class that could also be worth to take a look at?
Tell me please smile


//Simon

  • From: Denmark
  • Registered: 2008-04-03
  • Posts: 96

Re: Stratocaster question.

I would go for the Japan RI. The Japanese ones Ive tried out, just felt better than Mexican strats.

What did you expect to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wild beasts sweeping majestically over the fields?

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  • From: Dayton, OH
  • Registered: 2007-04-06
  • Posts: 276

Re: Stratocaster question.

Simon,

I would suggest that you save up your $'s and get a made in the USA version...It will pay off for you in the long run...

The Other Joe B.

  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: Stratocaster question.

MiJ all the way, a guitars for playing not selling smile besides alot of MiJ's are just as good if not better then US made strats

  • From: Dayton, OH
  • Registered: 2007-04-06
  • Posts: 276

Re: Stratocaster question.

I'd still be patient and kill two birds with one stone...Enjoy playing it and enjoy the fact that is holding its value, if not appreciating in your hands...I'm not a Strat guru, although I own one...I have heard that the USA quality is much better from guitarists that are far better than I...

The Other Joe B.

6 Reply by Simon94 (edited by Simon94 2008-04-18 15:59:01)

  • From: Sweden
  • Registered: 2008-03-10
  • Posts: 165

Re: Stratocaster question.

bizzer wrote:

Simon,

I would suggest that you save up your $'s and get a made in the USA version...It will pay off for you in the long run...

The Other Joe B.

The thing is, that I got my Semi acoustic guitar but I play stuffs where I feel "this guitar isnt doing this right, I need a solid one" so I'm really out for a new guitar and I dont want to buy it next year... see what I mean?

Simon

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Stratocaster question.

Simon94 wrote:
bizzer wrote:

Simon,

I would suggest that you save up your $'s and get a made in the USA version...It will pay off for you in the long run...

The Other Joe B.

The thing is, that I got my Semi acoustic guitar but I play stuffs where I feel "this guitar isnt doing this right, I need a solid one" so I'm really out for a new guitar and I dont want to buy it next year... see what I mean?

Simon

I second that, but take it a bit further to say to get a used one...possibly off ebay. It will be 'broken in' and more comfortable. New guitar have this shine and hardness on your hands. Also your first ding in a brand new guitar is perceived as almost a hell-worthy trespass you'll never forgive yourself for....at least a used one will already have a couple and the ones you put in will blend right in!  wink

good luck

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

8 Reply by Deezer (edited by Deezer 2008-04-18 23:01:58)

  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: Stratocaster question.

It depends. The Jimmie Vaughan version is a Mexican guitar. Henry Garza of Los Lonely Boys swears by Mexican Strats. My advice is to get out there, play a few, and find that one that just sparkles in your hands.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

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  • From: Oklahoma
  • Registered: 2008-03-28
  • Posts: 263

Re: Stratocaster question.

while its just my opinion, the Made in Mexico ones are just as good as the Made in America ones. I used to have the exact same model Tele (gifts) one MIM and one USA and you could not tell them apart. 
The biggest difference is obviously the cost since the labor and mateirals to make them are far cheaper in Mexico than the states.  I would get one of those, so your not into a ton of $ to start and you can start playing NOW vs. saving up for the more expensive one.

Don't play leapfrog with a unicorn
  • From: Upper Yukon, Alaska
  • Registered: 2006-12-05
  • Posts: 128

Re: Stratocaster question.

I'd be looking on Craigs List and checking out as many as possible before buying one.  I see Amer strats for 4-6 hundred every week or so.  I find the best guitars from friends.  I have friends that buy/sell/trade guitars like other friends do with guns;  I've got my hands on some nice teles & strats in that manner.  Most Amer strats play better than the Mex strats I see.  One of my buddies has an Aria (Japan) 1000 dollar guitar,  he bought for 300; really nice guitar.

  • From: Sweden
  • Registered: 2008-03-10
  • Posts: 165

Re: Stratocaster question.

bizzer wrote:

Simon
I second that, but take it a bit further to say to get a used one...possibly off ebay. It will be 'broken in' and more comfortable. New guitar have this shine and hardness on your hands. Also your first ding in a brand new guitar is perceived as almost a hell-worthy trespass you'll never forgive yourself for....at least a used one will already have a couple and the ones you put in will blend right in!  wink

good luck

The Japanese strat is a used strat at a music store (called second hand music) and Im really in for that one. The problem is that Ím earning most of my money from gigs with my band. And right now we put all our money that we earn away so we can afford to fly to france (we have a gig there) and we will get those money back when we land in france. But that gig is in october so i fear that the strat might be sold before I get the money sad

12 Reply by vinceesquire (edited by vinceesquire 2008-04-19 21:13:43)

  • Registered: 2008-03-27
  • Posts: 297

Re: Stratocaster question.

believe it or not, i've been buying and modifying (with the help of my guitar tech) fender squier bullets...I go through 8 or 9 of them, pick the one with the best resonance in the wood and the nicest feeling neck to start with, and then I buy really high-end pickups (you can get alot of different tones out of one guitar this way as well) and have them installed with better electronics as well as having the tuners replaced with locking ones for better tuning...we also spend a few hours shaving down the back of the neck until it feels just the way I like it...i've found that by doing this I can have a really nice strat thats to my specs for no more than 4 or 5 hundred bucks...i almost like doing this as opposed to buying a $1,500 strat that might not play at all the way i'd like it to...

i've built 3 or 4 of my favorite guitars this way...squiers also have a really cool selection of colors...i just ordered a daphne blue bullet to modify...i think i'm going to put lipstick tube pickups in it...still not sure yet though...i'm also doing the same thing to a really nice Epiphone Dot ES-335 that I found...got some really nice gibson pickups to install and all that good stuff...

this route isn't for everyone, so to answer your question simply...just go to a music store and try a bunch out until you find one that feels effortless to you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EGOdbJ4sRM
  • richp
  • richp
  • Bronze Member
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  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 30

Re: Stratocaster question.

Dude....if you HAD to go for ANY of those aforementioned axes.......IMHO......what I would get (and am Jonesing for) is the MIM Classic 60's Player!! The pickups on that baby are OUTRAGEOUS!! Never, outside of a custom shop axe, have I played STOCK Strat pickups like those!! Just my $.02 !!
And visually....it's gorgeous!!

You WON'T be disappointed!!

"One of Chuck's children out there playin' his licks"
  • SRVTWO
  • SRVTWO
  • Silver Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2007-12-03
  • Posts: 59

Re: Stratocaster question.

+1 for the Fender MIM Classic Players Strat.  Tonequest just did a review on a 50's Classic Playa Strat and they raved about it.  Said the pickups were awesome as well as the rest of the instrument.  Those guys have played some VERY nice guitars too.
Mike

  • From: Kansas
  • Registered: 2007-10-12
  • Posts: 375

Re: Stratocaster question.

The answer is to save up for a long time and just buy an Eric Johnson Signature Strat.

Only Strat you will ever need to buy....

tongue

Well, the night I was born
Lord I swear the moon turned a fire red
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Stratocaster question.

MontiusWinston wrote:

The answer is to save up for a long time and just buy an Eric Johnson Signature Strat.

Only Strat you will ever need to buy....

tongue

I heard LOTS of good things about that guitar.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Stratocaster question.

vinceesquire wrote:

believe it or not, i've been buying and modifying (with the help of my guitar tech) fender squier bullets... and then I buy really high-end pickups (you can get alot of different tones out of one guitar this way as well) and have them installed with better electronics as well as having the tuners replaced with locking ones for better tuning...

that would be a hilarious way spread around how people should start buying Fenders. I totally agree with what you're saying.

I bought a SAGA strat kit "build it yourself" and parted out the junk and bought some Texas Special pickups (I hate them by the way), neck, tuners, graphtec nut/saddle....good  to go for around $300.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2008-03-27
  • Posts: 297

Re: Stratocaster question.

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

bought some Texas Special pickups (I hate them by the way)

wow really? they are my favorite pickups! i've just recently tried some of the 57'/62' pickups (wound to the specs of a set of original 63's) though and have put those in a close second....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EGOdbJ4sRM